Depart Alone

Strong in their cheekbones. Trap! The Way closes for them. The Realizing Person goes on alone: Parting! Parting! He meets the rain, feeling soiled and indignant. This is not a mistake. You are involved with cruel people intent only on their mastery. See this clearly and leave. You will be caught in a flood of abuse but this is not a mistake. You may think you see an interesting opportunity to communicate now but there is nothing in it. Subtly penetrate to the new situation and you will catch the game you really need. Co-operate with the on-going process of change.

九三, 壯于頄, 有凶, 君子夬夬獨行, 遇雨若濡, 有慍, 无咎.

To be powerful in the cheekbones Brings misfortune. ##### Comments The superior man is firmly resolved. He walks alone and is caught in the rain. He is bespattered, And people murmur against him. No blame. Here we have a man in an ambiguous situation. While all others are engaged in a resolute fight against all that is inferior, he alone has a certain relationship with an inferior man. If he were to show strength outwardly and turn against this man before the time is ripe, he would only endanger the entire situation, because the inferior man would too quickly have recourse to countermeasures. The task of the superior man becomes extremely difficult here. He must be firmly resolved within himself and, while maintaining association with the inferior man, avoid any participation in his evilness. He will of course be misjudged. It will be thought that he belong to the party of the inferior man. He will be lonely because no one will understand him. His relations with the inferior man will sully him in the eyes of the multitude, and they will turn against him, grumbling. But he can endure this lack of appreciation and makes no mistake, because he remains true to himself.